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Property/DIY

Packing service

8 replies

Funnyface1 · 22/11/2017 12:42

Hi

I'm moving house on Friday and the removal company is arriving to pack for us tomorrow.

I've never used a packing service before and I'm starting to get a little anxious about people I don't know going through my whole house, but I need the help.

I'm also looking round and wondering how it can all be done in one day, it's feels like mountains of stuff.

The exchange only happened on Monday so I'm using a small, local company who were the only ones available.

Is a packing service the godsend everyone seems to say it is?

Is there anything I should be doing?

Also tips to de-stress and get through it would be great!

OP posts:
SilverSpot · 22/11/2017 12:51

Is a packing service the godsend everyone seems to say it is?

Yes

Is there anything I should be doing?

Box up anything that needs to stay in the current house and put it in your car or something. Like window keys, instruction manuals for boiler.

Throw away anything you don't want to come with you. They pack EVERYTHNG.

BewareOfTheToddler · 22/11/2017 13:00

Yes! It's amazing - like having locusts descend on your house. My heart sank when our removals company sent round one bloke the day before - we had a LOT of books, kids' toys, etc - but in 6.5 hours our 2 bed flat was packed (the guy worked like a Trojan).

Before they come, I recommend the following:

Pack an overnight bag for everyone - pyjamas, toothbrush, clothes for the next day, nappies if your kids are of that age, special teddies, etc. Depending on how much space there is in the boot, you may wish to include essential paperwork (passports, etc).

Plan to have takeaway on the last night in the old place, and the first night in the new one (or eat out), as all your food, pans and plates will be packed!

If you have room in your car boot, take bedding with you and towels so you can make the beds up on arrival.

Pack a box which either goes in the car or is the last thing in the removal van. In our case, this contained cleaning products, the kettle, tea, coffee, biscuits, mugs and teaspoons, paper plates ad plastic cups, tea towels and kitchen roll, loo roll and so on. Don't let them pack this! Ditto the Hoover and potentially mop and bucket, so you can clean each rooms as it's emptied. Keep breakfast things aside for the morning of moving day as well and anything you need for pets.

Do as much cleaning as is feasible in advance and clean each room thoroughly as it empties.

Lots of removals firms won't go in the loft so you may need to empty that in advance.

Don't forget things like garage, garden shed, etc.

If you can get your kids out of the way/call in childcare favours if they're pre-school, do.

If you have pets, it's worth getting them out of the way as well - they may be unsettled by the packing. We were lucky as we had a month between exchange and completion so our cat went to jail (cattery) for a few days either side of the move, which worked really well. Our vendors shut their cats in one bedroom for the morning!

Good luck! You can do this! I recommend gallons of tea and an insulated mug so you at least stand a chance of drinking some of it hot Grin

LIZS · 22/11/2017 13:01

Set aside anything you'll need straightaway, your paperwork and pack any personal items and underwear and overnight things. Then let them loose. Ideally arrange items together by destination. I found a packing service good but unpacking frustrating as I need to oversee or rearrange afterwards, so asked them to go after a while and finished it ourselves.

Rainshowers · 22/11/2017 14:23

It's amazing, definitely worth the money. I couldn't believe how quick they did it!

We pack a couple of bags with overnight stuff (and put them in the car) and also some cleaning bits so we had them to hand as soon as we collected the keys. They packed most stuff the day before we moved (and actually encouraged us to go out for lunch while they worked!), then the morning of the move dismantled the beds etc and started loading up the van.

Funnyface1 · 22/11/2017 14:37

Thank you for the replies so far. I'm starting to feel better but I'm anxious by nature and with the late exchange I just feel really unprepared. My husband is working full time until the move and there just seems like so much to do. Two DC also.

I think I'll feel a lot better by this time tomorrow if the packing has gone well.

OP posts:
Orchardgreen · 22/11/2017 14:51

It's worth every penny. But keep an eye out, my parents had the packers in, the day before the move and the day of the move. They packed the kitchen bin complete with garbage, we found it a few days later, in a box.

Orchardgreen · 22/11/2017 14:53

Oh, and put some gin in the car.

Funnyface1 · 22/11/2017 19:29

Gin is right! Grin

OP posts:
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